Cnu Notes

September 22, 2002|By JENNIFER L WILLIAMS Daily Press

IN THE CARDS. Christopher Newport's defensive unit wore small laminated cards taped to their forearms in Saturday's 34-7 loss. The cards had plays listed by number so that calls could come in from the sideline quickly in the midst of trying to deal with Rowan's no-huddle offense.

Players said they had worked with the cards all week in practice, and that they actually helped. And none of them appeared to fall off during the course of the day.

"In practice we run two offensive huddles against one defensive huddle, so when we get to game day it's actually slower," Captains defensive end Jason Chandler said.

NO RUSH. Neither team ran the ball well Saturday. Rowan's leading rusher had 34 yards and CNU's 24. Rowan averaged 4.1 yards per carry on its 29 running plays, CNU 1.7 yards on its 47 tries. CNU's leading rusher in its first two games, fullback Mario Marin, led the Captains in receptions this time with three.

CLOCK WATCHERS. Rowan's last trip to Virginia wasn't quite as pleasant as Saturday's. The Profs lost at Bridgewater 29-24 in last season's Division III playoff semifinals in a game marred by a clock incident at the end that allowed the game-winning touchdown to be scored when time should have been expired.

QUOTABLE. CNU coach Matt Kelchner: "This is part of our growing program, part of cutting our teeth as a football team. And you know when your little kid is cutting teeth and they start cryin' a little bit? That's what we're doing today, cryin' a little bit."

IN BRIEF. CNU linebacker Jacob Lynch reaggravated a left ankle sprain that has been troubling him all season, ending up on crutches by game's end. ... CNU plays four of its next five games on the road, starting with its matchup at second-ranked Bridgewater on Saturday at 1 p.m.